A proposal by County Commissioner Tom Mielke that Clark County should withhold some public health services from people without valid Social Security numbers has inflamed some Latino civil rights advocates.Yes, and we have a problem with cranky old white guys as well who seek to divide this community at any opportunity. Perhaps this is Mielke's attempt to improve the GOP's Hispanic outreach program, who knows?
At a hearing Wednesday, Mielke said he was "concerned about the service that we give to illegals, and the cost."
"If we don’t have those Social Security numbers, I would like to know who those individuals are who we are serving that are here illegally, and why we serve them and help them in their health," said Mielke, a Battle Ground Republican. "I think Sheriff Lucas is very interested in who they are."
...
"Latinos aren’t the only problem we have," Mielke said. "We have people from eastern India and Russia and everything else."
From a political standpoint, Mielke's trying to enflame nativist fires during tough economic times. And judging by the comment thread in The Columbian's piece, he's got company. In this respect, it's quite the throwback to the last century when our very own congressional district was served by Congressman Albert Johnson, the prime sponsor of the Immigration Act of 1924, which excluded immigration by Asians for decades.
What is abundantly clear is that failing to provide public health services to underserved populations is playing with fire, as this recent H1N1 pandemic (which could have been significantly worse) proved. If we followed Mielke's directives, people would be dead, and public health would be seriously impacted. But when you're a "common sense" man like Mielke, you don't have the foggiest understanding of virology.
It's unfortunate that we can't just quarantine politicians who spew such nonsense.
Update: Local ditto-head blogger Lew Waters chimes in with this doozy of a comment:
by Lew Waters : 5/30/09 9:35pm - Report AbuseAt the point that members of LULAC start riding by horseback across the county at night while in white hoods and setting crosses on fire, I'll share Lew's opinion.
Reading "local members of LULAC will be monitoring Clark County Commission meetings from now on" sounds much like a threat. Would we be so grateful for the KKK to "monitor Clark County Commission meetings?" I think not.
Just who is monitoring LULAC? Perhaps we citizens should watch them closely as well.
Please post a meeting schedule so we may attend your meetings to "monitor" your group closer.
2 comments:
Mielke is his own worst enemy. Not long ago, he prescribed "tough love" in lieu of evidence-based treatment for the mentally ill of Clark County. He alienated Clark County consumers of mental health services as well as their hard-working and underpaid providers. I predict that he will become a pariah to politicians from his own party. What person of merit wants to align themselves with this guy? Mielke is a dinosaur on the brink of extinction. I don't think he has the smarts or humility to understand this. He will keep making these outrageous gaffes, as he always has done.
Mielke is at it again. Not long ago, in an attempt to cut mental health funding, he prescribed "tough love" in lieu of evidence-based treatment, thereby alienating consumers and hard-working, underpaid providers of mental health services in Clark County. He is becoming a pariah to competent members of his own party, as they start to distance themselves from him. Problem is, he is not smart or humble enough to figure this out. He is a dinosaur headed for extinction. Until that happy day happens, however, he will do his best to destroy programs and good will. I am so glad that LULAC is on his trail.
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